Mary Ziegel

Mary Catherine Ziegel, life-long resident of Eaton died peacefully in a care facility in Hilliard, Ohio. Born Mary Catherine Risinger on January 3, 1916, she brought intelligence, grace, and warmth to her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, homemaker, piano teacher, church organist, and friend to many people throughout her life. Mary Catherine was a 1933 graduate of Eaton High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College in 1937 and a Master of Arts degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1940, both in piano performance. Prior to marriage, she taught at Westtown School in Pennsylvania and Berea College in Kentucky. She was married in Monterrey, California to Donald Ziegel in 1942. After World War II, Mary Catherine and her husband returned to Eaton, where Donald served for 30 years as Probate and Juvenile Judge for Preble County. For almost 50 years Mary Catherine was organist at the First Presbyterian Church. She also accompanied many choral groups in the Eaton area, taught private piano lessons, and was active in several community organizations. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald after 52 years of marriage. She left Eaton in 2005 to live near her daughter in Cincinnati. Mary Catherine is survived by three children, Eric and Kathy Ziegel of Houston, Texas, Jeanne and Chris Barnes of Cincinnati, and David and Ann Ziegel of Hilliard, Ohio and her sister, Jean Hoff of Wilmington, Delaware. She has seven grandchildren: Stephanie and Scott Eckley, Laura and David Powers, David and Vanessa Barnes, Timothy and Heather Barnes, Elaine Barnes, Aaron and Audra Ziegel, and Adam Ziegel. There are seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on February 5 at First Presbyterian Church, Eaton, Ohio, at 11:30am. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11:30am, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations should be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 123 W Decatur St, Eaton OH 45320.